This week's best new pop song (updated weekly)

NOTICE - I ran this feature for about a year but due to work don't have enough time to scout out the songs like I used to.  Therefore I will be suspending selections for the timebeing.  If you are looking for new pop music the best sites I know of for this are popjustice.com (UK focus) and maybe idolator.com for new US music

Welcome to This week's best new pop song where I select just one great song to feature every week. The weekly poll lets me know if I've hit the mark. The rules are pretty simple. Every week's pick has got to be:

GOOD regardless of genre and with no industry influence allowed

NEW well, at least recent. I'm not trying to be hot off the presses just current.

POP unashamedly commercial and crowd-pleasing, disposable and sing a long-able.

Check out This Week's Best New Blog feed below right and scroll down to see all the weekly selections over the last few months.

Recent blog posts: *** Is this girl singer TOO sexy? *** 5 songs that sound like Abba (but aren't) *** Millionaires and the rise of slut pop

Ratings: most will get a "Nice tune!", a few might get a "Lovin' It!!" and once in a long while you might see an "Instant Classic!!!". Note my clever use of exclamation marks in the rating system.

"You Lost Me" by Christina Aguilera

A real return to form by Aguilera - simple stripped down ballad in the style of "Beautiful" and just as effective.  Some positive votes from the public.

"All Summer" by Kid Cudi,Best Coast

Cool rap over retro girl group sound (think Shangrilahs) makes for a cool Summer sound. Free to download at converse.com. Favorite bit - "we aint worried boss".

"Oxytocin" by Kid Adrift

A very un-pop choice: indie, quixotic vocal, hard to classify but it's a song that scores big on originality and interest value. A glimpse of a significant new talent maybe.

"Gold Dust" by DJ Fresh

Drum and bass hit given a mainstream release and which has a reasonable chance of success with its pace, energy and a watchable video featuring skipping Brooklyn-style.

"Brand New Day" by Joshua Radin

Easy listening follow up to smash hit "I'd Rather Be". Maybe not quite as good but a good video and likeability factor.

"Love Generation" by Love Generation

Manufactured plastic Euro pop of the best sort from a Swedish girl group. A disposable gem.

"Wavin Flag" by K'Naan

Surprisingly good anthem from the World Cup - captures the flavour of the first African global tournament and very catchy. Nice Tune. See World Cup Shock - a decent song

"Cooler than Me" by Mike Posner

This cool summer beat has been around for a while but is getting a big release and climbing the American charts. Deservedly because it is R&B at its slickest and most entertaining.

"Shake the Haters Off" by Kelly Rowland

NeYo wrote this pleasingly upbeat and positive single which Rowland sings like she means it. Better than her other album-launching single "Commander". Nice Tune rating.

"Funeral" by Elin Lanto

Dramatic and emotional ballad from Swedish beauty with a pleasingly offbeat, slightly mad-cap chorus. Can't take it too seriously but it's great fun and deserved its two !! rating.

"Kickstarts" by Example

Pleasing 80s feel to this pop dance track with a sweet message and a chorus that gets in your head.

"Undo it" by Carrie Underwood

More rock than country this one from the former Idol winner. One of those "i'm-over-you-yer-bastard" songs girls sing in defiance when they are dumped. Voters liked it.

"What if I?" by Ben's Brother

Finely paced and executed soft rock ballad which is lifted from the ordinary by an emotion-laden but tight vocal performance by the lead singer who, I discovered, really does have a brother called Ben. Nice tune.

"I Did it For Love" by Jessica Andersson

Swedish MILF actress delivers an old-fashioned but powerful ballad which I gave two exclamation marks. Just my kind of thing.

"Don't Let Me Fall" by B.O.B.

One of two songs released to follow up US No 1 Nothing On You, and much better in my opinion. Not unlike something the Blackeyed Peas would do. The other new song Airplanes look set to make no 1 also. Voters surprisingly luke warm on such a hot act.

"Do Wah Doo" by Kate Nash

Singer with a slightly irritating singing voice (see post "Kate Nash and the battle of the Mocknies") has nevertheless produced an enjoyable take on the 50s Doo-Wop sound with a witty lyric. Voters seemed to like it OK.

"Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine

Pure and charismatic vocal with a dynamic beat and arty new video from an artist who seems set for big things in 2010. Released last year in UK. Most voters said OK choice.

"BitterSweet" by Sophie Ellis Bextor

Nifty dance track collaboration between girl with a funny looking face / voice and the Freemasons. I really like it for the 80s feel - bits sound like the Eurythmics and there's even a hint of New Order.

"Follow Me Down" by 3OH!3

Great dance track with a catchy chorus from American duo who have recently hit the big time. They have done some better songs - see blog 3OH!3 Three of their best. Voters generally thought it deserved better than Nice Tune!

"Falling" by Name The Pet

Not likely to be a big hit this one but instantly likeable electropop from Swedish girl singer. Make sure you listen to the version on Myspace not the one on YouTube.

"One Day" by Matisyahu

Reggae peace anthem with inspiring words and uplifting music. Nice tune rating.

"Teenager" by Japayork

Slightly obscure selection from an indie-pop new boy with a bad name but when it gets to the chorus you will understand why I chose it. A few votes in favour so someone agreed it was a nice tune.

"Knockout" by Lil Wayne

A revelation from rapper Wayne - hybrid rock and hip hop. Raucous fun nicely offset with a good female vocal by Nicki Minaj. Not yet in the upper reaches of the Billboard chart but surely will be. LW in prison for gun offences - that's a first for one of my selections. Nice tune.

"Ambitions" by Donkeyboy

Great synth pop song from Norwegian group that is actually not new at all but due for a rerelease so a good enough excuse to recommend it to anyone who hasn't heard how great it is.

"Tell Me It's Not Over" by Starsailor

Pure class from British rock band that is reminiscent of Keane at their most listenable. Great piano intro. Nice tune.

"Hey, Soul Sister" by Train

A very late recommendation for a song that's been around for a while in the States at least but this is a nice tune - instantly likeable and moodlightening.

"Blood, Tears & Gold" by Hurt

The second time I have selected a song by this new group which seems poised for a breakthrough in 2010. This emotional, sweeping and beautifully-paced song could really launch them big - "instant classic" I said, perhaps slightly overstating the case according to voters.

"On a Mission" by Gabriella Cilmi

Pure pop that is fun and enjoyable even if highly derivative - will have the girls signing into their hairbrushes as they get ready to go out on a Friday night. I said nice tune! and think the Oz singer has a hit on her hands.

February 16th Hey, Soul Sister - Train

February 9th Blood Tears & Gold - Hurts

February 2nd On a Mission - Gabriella Cilmi

January 26th Her Words Destroyed My Planet - Motion City Soundtrack

January 19th Skinny Genes - Eliza Doolittle

January 12th One Life Stand - Hot Chip

January 5th I Like - Keri Hilson

December 29th Wonderful Life - Hurts

December 22nd Happy Birthday Guadalupe - The Killers

December 15th Wonderful Life - Hurts

December 8th Happy Birthday Guadalupe - The Killers

December 1st Stay Too Long - Plan B

November 24th Do You Remember? - Jay Sean

November 17th Easy - Dragonette

November 10th One Republic - Secrets

November 3rd Marina and the Diamonds - Mowgli's Road

October 27th The Wonder Girls - Nobody

October 20th Lady GaGa - Bad Romance

October 13th Vanessa Amorosi - This is Who I Am

October 6th The Big Pink - Dominos

September 29th Cheryl Cole - Fight for this love

September 22nd David Guetta/Akon - Sexy Chick

September 15th Paloma Faith - New york

September 8th Pixie Lott - Boys and Girls

September 1st Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart

I've always loved pop music and have never understood people who are dismissive of it or who ignore great songs because they don't fit into their favoured music genre. Of course I understand why people are snooty. Pop is mostly:

• formulaic, derivative and almost by definition unoriginal
• commercial and calculated without much artistic integrity
• packaged to sell with shallow, surface glamour - style over substance
• corny, re-hashed lyrics returning to the same old themes of love, sex and rejection
• obsessively youth- and looks-orientated

But despite or perhaps because of all these things, good pop songs deliver what you need day to day from music. A single song can lift your mood and a load of them in the background make boring jobs less boring. It's not that songs from other genres of music don't do these things it's just that when they do they're really pop songs anyway.

Sub-genres: pure and power

You could list dozens of pop classifications from dance to country, indie to pop rock but to me there are two main varieties of pop song:

PURE POP which is all about the sound. The beat and the melody of the best songs get in your head and make you want to hear them again and again (until you've played them too much).

POWER POP which draws an emotional response however fleeting or contrived.

Some examples:

Recent history - Pokerface by Lady GaGa ** I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry (pure pop) You Raise me up by Josh Groban ** A Moment Like This by Leona Lewis (power pop)

Ancient history - Break my Stride by Mathew Wilder ** I Get Around by The Beach Boys (pure pop) Alone by Heart ** Against All Odds by Phil Collins (power pop)